U.S. Outdoor Small Cells: A Five Year TCO

Details

This market study presents a total cost of ownership model for 4G LTE outdoor small cell deployments in the U.S. using leased dark fiber and attaching to existing poles. It estimates both capital and operational costs. The model presents an "average" view of the national U.S. market but could be refined to estimate smaller markets.

The model presents four different iterations of costs for both dark fiber and attachment rates: low, medium, high and extreme. Increasing costs are assigned to each of those categories in order to estimate how greatly deployment and operational costs might vary. The model includes other cost estimates, as well, including technology costs, labor, permits, and power.

Key Questions Answered

What is an outdoor small cell? What are metrocells, RRHs and oDAS?

What are the issues with deploying outdoor small cells in the U.S.? How do these issues impact the number of small cells in the market?

What are the differences between oDAS, metrocells and remote radio heads?

Where are outdoor small cells most likely to be located? What’s their role?

How important is location to the effectiveness of an outdoor small cell?

What are the main drivers of outdoor small cell deployment costs?

Do these cost drivers vary by region?

How much does it cost to deploy outdoor small cells?

Who Should Read

Mobile operators

Infrastructure OEMs

Small cell product and solution vendors

Backhaul service providers and equipment OEMs

Financial analysts and investors.

Table of Contents

Abstract

Executive Summary

Methodology

Basic Mobile Operator Network Architecture

Wireless Spectrum

Cell Sites

The Different Types of Haul

Setting the Stage for Small Cells

Network “Pain Points”

Different Types of Small Cells

Outdoor Small Cell Deployment Issues

Small Cell deployment requirements

Small Cell Installations

Locations for Small Cells

Small Cell Deployment Issues

5G Defined

4G to 5G small cell transition

5G Services and Use Cases

General Trends / Assumptions around Outdoor Small Cells

Market drivers

Market inhibitors

Regulatory Overview

Federal Involvement

The SPEED Act of 2017

Costs of Permits

Summary

Outdoor Small Cells TCO: Assumptions

Assumptions

The Bigger Picture

Summary

Small Cell Vendor Profiles

Accelleran

Airspan Networks

CellXica

Comba Telecom

CommScope

Druid Software

Ericsson

Gemtek

Huawei

ip.access

JMA Wireless

Juni

Kathrein

Microlab (Wireless Telecom Group)

NEC

NextNav

Nokia Networks

Oracle

Quortus

Samsung Electronics

Sercomm

SpiderCloud Wireless (Corning Optical Communications)

TeleWorld Solutions

ZTE Corporation

Definitions

About iGR

Disclaimer

List of Tables

Table 1: Different Types of Small Cells, Licensed and Unlicensed Spectrum